The Coronavirus has intensified disparities including gender inequality in the Mediterranean region, but it has also underscored the key role played by women in battling the pandemic, the Italian foreign ministry tweeted on Thursday.
"The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted existing fragilities, including inequality in the Middle East and North Africa but it has also put in the spotlight the important role played by women in key sectors at the front-line of the fight against the pandemic," read the tweet.
The tweet was an excerpt from foreign ministry secretary-general Elisabetta Belloni's address to the annual Mediterranean Dialogues forum, which this year is being held virtually.
Over 40 events are scheduled at this year's Med Dialogue forum 'The Future of the Mediterranean after the Pandemic'. The event is taking place through Friday under the auspices of Italy's foreign ministry and the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI).
Italy's premier Giuseppe Conte is due to close the conference.